Ship Creek Dam
Ship Creek Dam is a gravity dam located in Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Ship Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Ship Creek Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Doyon Utilities (private). It impounds the Ship Creek near Anchorage.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 80 feet across, and has a maximum storage capacity of 27 acre-feet. Completed in 1954, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/31/2018. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Alaska dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Alaska |
| County | Municipality of Anchorage |
| Nearest City | Anchorage |
| River/Stream | Ship Creek |
| Coordinates | 61.25000, -149.66660 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 80 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 27 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 27 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 27 acre-ft |
| Max Discharge | 2,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | DOYON UTILITIES |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/31/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | AK00035 |
| Federal ID | AK00035 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |